Primosphere was profiled recently on Radio & Records about their latest attempts to get back into the industry as part of the Sirius and XM merger.

Partners Cliff Burnstein and Peter Mensch, who also operate Q Prime in New York, told R&R that they want the FCC to live up to the original rules and have at least two different license holders. And they want to be one of them. 

The company was one of the original SDARS bidders alongside Digital Satellite Broadcasting Service, CD Radio and American Mobile Satellite Radio Service. Each paid the government $70,000 for two "satellite slots," recalls Burnstein. But while CD Radio and American Satellite, which became Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., ultimately won the spectrum, Primosphere never had its original $140,000 deposit returned, according to Burnstein.

On the current proceedings, Burnstein told R&R he could not get a read on the FCC merger decision based on its recent meetings, but it was clear to him that FCC officials are "uncomfortable with a single provider."

What about the minority owned Georgetown Partners? They have had a similar request and numerous meetings with the Commission, but Burnstein says: "they don't have any standing in this."

"We have a legal standing even if it is by a thread," he said, adding that Primosphere doesn't need funding and could be up and running with newly built studio space within six months. However, Primosphere would need the merged entity lease some technology for uplink and downlink capability for its programming to satellite receivers.

Primosphere's programming would be advertising-based and would offer about 30 channels of mostly music programming, forecasts Burnstein. He says Primosphere's "will come at this from a music and programming perspective."

Burnstein's goal - while admittedly "a little bit idealistic" - is "to serve the underserved."

[Radio & Records]

The founder of Sirius Satellite Radio, Martine Rothblatt, was profiled recently by the Associated Press in a rare interview.

Martine Rothblatt explained to the AP that her 1980 MBA thesis at UCLA was essentially the blueprint for her first company, PanAmSat, which created a satellite-based vehicle tracking system.

Rothblatt then wanted to create the radio equivalent to cable television, a "cable on wheels." Most of the technology was already in existence, Rothblatt said.

Still, engineers told her there were too many technological impediments; others said the business model was flawed.

Undaunted, Rothblatt eventually convinced the FCC to devote a slice spectrum to satellite radio. But the FCC insisted a competing company, which eventually became XM, be given some of the bandwidth so that Rothblatt's company would not enjoy a monopoly.

Martine Rothblatt moved on from satellite radio, founding United Therapeutics in a desperate battle to save her daughter's life. Now, the AP reports, that while still running United Therapeutics Rothblatt devotes much of her spare time and energy "to perhaps the ultimate challenge: defeating death itself."

[Newsvine via RWOnline]

As the congressional investigation of the FCC continues, a memo obtained by The Washington Post turned up complaints about the way Chairman Kevin Martin runs the agency.

"The bottom line is that the FCC process appears broken and most of the blame appears to rest with Chairman Martin," wrote Commerce and Energy Committee staff members in the April 28th memo to committee chairman Rep. John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of the subcommittee on oversight and investigations.

The memo to Dingell and Stupak said the investigation is ongoing and proposed holding hearings on the findings in June, according to The Post.

Additionally, more than 30 current and former FCC employees were interviewed, along with telecommunications industry representatives and private citizens, according to the memo. This is the first indication that the investigation has turned up material to support complaints against Martin himself.

[The Washington Post]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

In what can only be described as one of the most amazing and revealing glimpses ever at the recent Pulitzer Prize-winner, the May issue of Vanity Fair magazine assembled an incredible two-page spread entitled "Inside Dylan's Brain."

Vanity Fair contributor Duff McDonald constructed a fascinating and insightful portrait of Bob Dylan based entirely on his weekly XM show, "Theme Time Radio Hour." He assembled together everything that Dylan has played from the two years worth of shows, from the artists, to the poets, movies, TV shows, history lessons and even Dylan's one-liners.

Even if you're not a Dylan fan, or an XM subscriber, I highly recommend reading this article and for a bonus check out the large version of the picture shown above.

[Vanity Fair]

Apparently Entercom is real serious about not mentioning Sirius or XM on the air, because it's being reported that an afternoon talker was bleeped when mentioning the news about the companies yesterday.

According to Radio-Info, regionally syndicated afternoon talker Howie Carr was bleeped when reading the news about the DOJ's approval (from the Drudge Report apparently).

Carr supposedly was discussing the merger news on air, saying "Justice Department approves [EDIT]. That's good." Then later Carr said to his producer: "Did you cut that out? I can't report the news?"

More and more it's the corporate regulations - not the FCC mandated indecency regulations - that are crippling broadcasters from doing their job. This is a perfect example.

[via Radio-Info]

There's no doubt that there has been a roller-coaster of emotions the past 400 days, but no one could be happier waking up this morning than the future CEO of a soon merged Sirius-XM: Mel Karmazin.

"He's going to feel better about this than anything he's done in his career," said Tom Freston, former CEO of Viacom Inc. "It's a big triumph for Mr. Karmazin."

Freston and others credit Karmazin's relentless efforts with regulators, politicians and investors in pushing through approval of the deal.

"I think he is the most diplomatic, skilled negotiators that I know," said Joel Hollander, former CEO of CBS Radio. "Everyone knows he's a great salesman, but he knows how to leave a little bit on the table."

"He just grabbed onto this and ran through an endless amount of hurdles and made it seem more and more possible," Freston said. "This is probably the most difficult deal of his life."

But it's not over yet. Even after FCC approval, there's still realities that the merged company will need to face. Like turning a profit in a slowing economy.

"The bottom line is they'll be able to cut costs. but they'll have to figure out a way to increase the subscriber base," said Hollander. "It's not so easy today."

"If there's anyone that can do it, it's certainly Mel," Hollander added.

[Reuters via Orbitcast Forums]

Last week, on The Simpsons aired yet another reference to satellite radio in one of their new episodes. And while this may be inconsequential to the rest of the world, losers people with an unhealthy obsession interest for the satellite radio medium might actually watch this repeatedly and find entertainment beyond what it's originally meant for.

You may also even over-analyze the extremely short clip, and derive from it that the association of satellite radio with cars that have self-filling campaign glasses, push-button autopilot and retracting candlesticks, is a sign that the medium has secured it's spot as a luxury item in pop culture.

Perhaps, you might also be quick to point out that the vehicle being driven has a striking resemblance to a Cadillac CTS, and thus must be equipped with XM. This notably would be in stark contrast to last year's Simpson's episode which featured a device that resembled a Sirius receiver.

I, of course, would never do such things. That would just be plain silly.

Watch the video clip after the jump, courtesy of Hulu...

Now we know where Lee Abrams is going to after XM: Tribune Company.

He'll be joining the company as Chief Innovation Officer. and will be responsible for "innovation across Tribune's publishing, broadcasting and interactive divisions."

Abrams will come on board with Tribune on April 1st.

"Lee is the most formidable creative thinker in the media business today," said Tribune's president of broadcasting and interactive in the company's statement. "He invented the modern FM radio format, got satellite radio off the ground when no one gave it a chance, and managed to advise on the redesign of "Rolling Stone" magazine and the launch of TNT Cable Network in his spare time."

"Lee's going to pump new life into our content, re-energize our brands, and get people thinking and working together like they never have before."

Tribune's broadcasting group operates 23 television stations, Superstation WGN on national cable, Chicago's WGN-AM and the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

Keep in mind that Tribune is based in Chicago, Illinois - Lee's hometown.

[Press Release]

I really don't know what to think about this one. Radio Online, a radio industry trade publication, is claiming that XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. is infringing on its registered trademark with the usage of XM Radio Online.

"XM's continued use of 'XM Radio Online' is clearly causing confusion as well as diluting the distinctive quality, of our registered trademark within the radio broadcast and Internet radio arenas," stated Radio Online co-founder and Managing Editor Ron Chase. "We constantly face confusion with XM's own customer base, who frequently contact us for support. Or every time XM issues a press release that includes our name, there are those who think the companies have merged."

Honestly, is there really this level of confusion? I buy the claim that they're contacted for support (Orbitcast, on a daily basis, is contacted for support for both companies... and I give it), but do people really think they've merged with XM? C'mon.

But wait... it gets better.

Chase continued, "Both satellite operators said a merger was necessary because it did indeed compete with the radio broadcast and Internet radio industries. Hello McFly! Have you seen RADIO ONLINE? Mr. Davis, it's time you stop using our name. I hear XMRadio.com is available." (emphasis added)

Now here's where I raise a skeptical eyebrow. Did Ron Chase, in claiming that his comapny's trademark was infringed upon, actually say "Hello McFly!" in his statement?

Please tell me this is a joke. Hello McFly? Seriously?

Radio Online LLP does have a trademark on the term "radio online," but they don't have the exclusive use of the term "online." XM itself has filed for a trademark on the term "XM Radio" which is currently pending. I'm no lawyer, but since the term "online" is pretty ambiguous, this is hardly anything to take seriously.

And statements including "Hello McFly" don't help the claims' legitimacy.

[Radio Online]

Here's an interesting video from CNBC featuring Rebecca Arbogast of Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America, and Vince Farrell of Scotsman Capital Management.

Well worth the watch if you have an unhealthy obsession with following the merger.

Sadly, CNBC doesn't allow embedding of videos (because that would just lead to more people watching their ad-supported content, and we wouldn't want that) so go ahead and click the link below to watch the video.

[CNBC]